Tom Ellis Nearly Landed Reed Richards: 4 Reasons Fans Back the Lucifer Star Over Pedro Pascal

So, this got spicy fast: word got out that Tom Ellis auditioned to play Reed Richards in Marvel's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps', and a lot of fans think Marvel picked the wrong stretchy guy. Pedro Pascal landed the part, but the Ellis-as-Reed version is now the shiny new what-if everyone is arguing about.

What kicked this off

After the audition news surfaced, X did what X does. On Oct 19, 2025, fans piled on with takes ranging from 'I would have actually watched if Ellis was Reed' to calling Pascal unlikable, with a few cooler heads saying Pascal might be the better fit but Ellis would still have been great. Users like @Ovatsugp, @tingamer250, @Avengers226933, and @luarlord2 all chimed in, and the vibe was very 'missed opportunity' for Marvel.

'Tom wouldve killed this role' — @luarlord2

And to be fair, Ellis has a loyal following dating back to 'Lucifer'. The idea of him stepping into a prickly, genius lead is not coming out of nowhere.

Why Ellis could have worked as Reed

• The look actually lines up. Ellis with a close-cropped beard reads a lot like classic Reed from the 60s and 70s. Strictly on visuals, he arguably matches that era's Richards more than Pascal does in 'First Steps'.
• He is good at complicated leads. In 'Lucifer' (2016), Ellis turned the literal Devil into a charismatic, deeply flawed anti-hero you still root for. That balance of charm, wit, and moral messiness would translate cleanly to a Reed who is brilliant and not always easy to like.
• Command presence matters. Reed is the smartest person in most rooms and carries himself like it. Ellis has that 'everyone looks up when he walks in' energy — from 'Lucifer' to his work as Gary in 'Miranda', he can anchor a scene without having to shout about it.
• He can play the arrogance without making it flat. Reed often vanishes into the work, blows people off, and comes off arrogant. That is part of the character. Pascal's take in 'First Steps' does not lean hard into that edge. Ellis excels at that exact cocktail — arrogance with charisma — which could have added a sharper, more layered Reed that some fans felt was missing.

Bottom line: I get why people are heated. Ellis checks a lot of Reed boxes, and the casting tidbit feels like a fork in the road we can suddenly see. Would it have worked? Probably. Is Pedro a bad choice? Not necessarily — even some Ellis supporters said Pascal fits. Different flavors of Reed.

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' is available to rent on AppleTV (USA). Who would you rather see leading the team — Pascal's version, or Ellis in the multiverse where he got the call?